I have no intention of encouraging anyone to place a bet, but if you think Celtic will be crowned champions in five weeks’ time, you can make a 40% return on your money. Bookies do not give a 40% return on capital within five weeks often, so what’s going on?
The confidence you feel after Sunday is based on some cognitive biases. We have bossed Newco for 2.5 out of 3 games this season and there is an expectation that this trend will continue.
Also, five of Newco’s remaining seven games are away from home, whereas we have only two away games left. On average, more points are dropped away than at home, so there’s encouragement there too.
Add in your knowledge that the Celtic squad are getting fitter and better; Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate are back, Cameron Carter-Vickers is playing, and we look as good as we have all season, and you can see the plan coming together. So what gives with the bookies?
Bookies love trends. They know two facts about them: punters back them to continue and they always end. Lots happened on Sunday, but we should focus on the fact that at halftime, Newco ended a 2.5 game trend and started to cause Celtic problems.
Clement’s joy at a home draw was based on his belief that he – like you and me – knows what to expect from Celtic, and he will travel to Celtic Park with a plan he has confidence in.
Celtic are not the only side with players coming back from injury. Sima will be fully fit the next time these teams meet; Yilmaz will return to the left back slot and Matondo will be asked to continue how he ended on Sunday.
This will allow Newco to play to their strengths as a counter-attacking side, as they did successfully away to Betis and Benfica. If you can take a win and a draw from those games, you are entitled to be confident at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers needs a plan, for that plan. He will be preparing for it already, but you cannot just decide how a game will progress; chance, form and (of course) rogue decisions can derail the best of us. We have a lot to do to win that game.
This leaves us looking at the away fixtures. Celtic will visit Kilmarnock, where we have lost twice this season, compounded by a home draw. Difficult though this game will be, I expect a win. We are also likely to go to Paisley, scene of two comfortable wins this season.
Newco lost at Celtic Park in December, drew at Pittodrie a month earlier and lost the opening game of the season at Kilmarnock. As well as their best European performances being away from home, they have a better domestic record away than at home.
These sentiments are why the bookies don’t particularly fancy our chances. There remains a lot to do.
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Two SPFL clubs released statements today.
One was measured, contextual, reasonable and evidence based.
The other was the now standard rant at a legal entity that doesn’t appreciate it’s Sevco’s ba’.
Perhaps they could help Scottish football by releasing a statement listing the people and clubs they are NOT pure ragin’ at?
No need to mention Sly Sports.
We all know that one already.
Chance to go four clear on Saturday.
Over to us all. Players, manager, fans.
Watch the frequency of JHB Reborn’s posts increasing as we reach squeaky bum time.
A Sith if there ever was one.
No surprise there then!
https://twitter.com/BunbegB/status/1778142557043556795?t=xsM_8w1FwiWDVelH977MKA&s=07
Watching India 1947 partition in colour.
Dearie me by any modern measure Mountbatten was a war criminal.
Incredible that drawing of the India Pakistan border and the millions of deaths.
RON BACARDI JNR
Good stuff.
Good to see your name.
Vernon Coleman.
This fella has been ruthlessly smeared and suppressed for today’s most evil crime….exposing establishments lies, media, government, devolved government, etc.
Might be some accurate clues in this link as to what is causing the explosion of turbo cancer. 👀️
https://www.bitchute.com/video/6GVGKsIq56ZR/
….oot.
It must be easy to stop yon fella coming in the clubs door.
AN TEARMANN on 10TH APRIL 2024 7:39 PM
……….
Again, well done AT.
Also well done to ” MARC ROLLERCOASTER”.
BRIAN R.I.P.
YNWA Brian mate.
HH.
DAVID66 on 10TH APRIL 2024 8:17 PM
……..
RE BRIAN MCGINLEY…
Well said DAVID Bhoy.
HH.
The sun is shining brightly…..for once.
Good morning all from Donegal. Time to make our way to Derry then Belfast.
BRRB
Safe travel to you and crew.
C’mon ths CELTS.
Bhoyjoebelfast
Weather not too bad here…..yet.
Cheers!
Ron Bacardi RIP
TT
Great article by Paul67
We have a mountain to climb to win the title .
It can be done ,but we are second favourites at present.
TT
Tiny Tim
Hope you are well and fit for the title run in !
I do think you often see us second favourites for as long as I have known you. You were right in 2021. It is not a criticism.
I think our home advantage can count but the so called support has to realise the role it can play and back the team unconditionally for 98 mins or so and not the usual moaning 0-35 mins before going for a pie and then 50-80 mins before going home early.
So many examples I can recall historically where the fans really helped drive the team to victory. The 4-2 game being the classic but so many in centenary season and the 86 etc. It feels like the opposite now but it needn’t be.
I hope the recent adversity with refs and VAR works for us and creates the seige mentality around the fans and team.
I also think rangers inexperience wont sit well as the hold the favourites mantle. They have no one who has been over course and distance with fans in stadiums.
We will see the next chapter and know more on Saturday. See you then.
BURNLEY78 .
I asked this question yesterday .
How many points have we dropped, been Beaton ( pardon the pun )by the teams we have left to play .
new article posted.
thanks leftclick from yesterday